Wildlife Festival popular with children, families

by jmaloni

Fri, Sep 21st 2012 07:00 am

The Wildlife Festival returns this weekend.

The New York Power Authority will host the 27th annual
Wildlife Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 22 and
23. The free family event will take place at the Power Vista, the Niagara Power
Project's Visitors Center, and its surrounding grounds at 5777 Lewiston Road,
Lewiston.

Parking is free and will be available in the Power Vista
parking lot as well as adjacent parking lots at Niagara University. Shuttle
service will be provided from parking areas to the festival. In addition, the Niagara
Scenic Trolley will provide free rides throughout the event between the Gorge
Discovery Center and the Niagara Power Vista courtesy of the New York State
Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

•Interpretive nature programs by the state Parks Department
on various hiking adventures.

•Niagara River Iroquois Dancers.

•Skyhunters - an exhibit of birds of prey.

Other events include:

•Paul Schnell from the Institute for Environmental Learning,
who has participated in the festival since it began in 1985, will bring along
"Liberty the Bald Eagle" and other raptors, such as a screech owl, a peregrine
falcon and a red tail hawk.

•Children 15 years old and younger can participate both days
in the Wildlife Festival Kids Fishing Derby. Fishing can take place at any of
Niagara County's popular public fishing waters, including the NYPA reservoir
and fishing pier. Scales will be open at the Niagara Tourism and Convention
Corp. tent between noon and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. First-, second- and
third-place winners will be announced in three age categories (7 years old and
under, 8 to 12 years, 13 to 15 years) at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23. There also
will be awards and prizes for biggest catch from the NYPA reservoir and fishing
pier.